This was already posted by Leska, but it bears repeating in a new thread:

IRS Warns of Y2K Glitches

Scott Johnson
Editor, y2ktoday

-- Scott Johnson (scojo@yahoo.com), February 25, 1999

Answers

Thanks, Scott. The "local" placebo sleeping pill is what keeps making us laugh.

IRS Warns of Y2K Glitches

[ For Educational Purposes Only ]

IRS Warns of Y2K Glitches
Agency Warns of Minor Problems, But No Meltdown

Erich Luening, CNET NEWS.COM

Taxpayers may soon feel the bite of the Y2K bug.

Internal Revenue Service officials warned yesterday that taxpayers may encounter annoying computer flaws this year and next because of the Year 2000 technology problem.

Speaking before the House Ways and Means Committee, administration officials, along with IRS and other government officials, described the impact on taxpayers and beneficiaries.

The most startling warning came from commissioner Charles Rossotti, who explained that even though the IRS is confident there will be no systemwide meltdown, there may be some localized problems, according to a report in today's Wall Street Journal.

The commissioner said that his department has made major strides in fighting the Y2K computer bug, and that the overall picture is "generally positive." Nevertheless, he added, "there is still a great deal of risk and some trouble spots," and that the next 90 days "represent the riskiest period."

When asked about his use of such strong language, he said, "We want to be realistic. We do still have risks because we have all these different changes that have been made -- $1 billion worth of changes. No matter how well you test, you can't find everything," the commissioner said.

The IRS commissioner also said the agency has already set up contingency plans to detect and respond to any problems that occur.
.. [snip]
At yesterday's hearing, other government officials supported Rossotti's claims that there won't be nationwide system failures in industries, just local inconveniences.
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This "local" euphemism always cracks us up. Duh, if *anything* happens, of course it will happen locally. Even a meteor hits "locally."

If everybody in the USA gets a tax bill for $5,325,883,999,898.99, that will hit everybody locally, at their kitchen table, and more specifically, hunched over the loo. Very local impact. All the Y2K disruptions will happen locally, everywhere.

Even an atomic bomb or nuclear war -- each person will melt down locally, wherever they happen to be standing. Duh. Loco Local -- give us a break; all the sheeple will not be assured and kept anesthetized by LOCAL euphemisms!

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), February 25, 1999.

Oh yeah, the other possible concern, after "local," is the "other countries" threat, or "international" threat. Any other word than "national." The no-no "N" word.

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), February 25, 1999.

This reminds me of a really dumb joke, but its no dumber than this "local" garbage. It goes like this: The jokester (name of Hoffmeister, as I recall) will "prove" that the jokestee(?) is NOT HERE, but rather is SOMEWHERE ELSE:

Q: Are you in San Francisco?
A: No.
Q: Are you in San Antonio?
A: No.
Q: Are you in San Diego?
A: No.
Q: Well, if you are not in San Francisco, nor in San Antonio, nor in San Diego, then you must be someplace else, right?
A: Yes.
Q: So, if you are somewhere else, then you can't be here.

My point is that the powers that be are telling us that Y2K is going to be real bad, but as long as you think that your own bank and so on is in good shape, you don't have to worry too much. Riiiggghhhht.

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.com), February 25, 1999.

New IRS Motto:

File Your Y2K Forms Here ... Accepting Local Problems Only

(Do not expect a return ... answer).

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), February 25, 1999.

Look for this post, below.

Will you get an Income Tax refund in 2000? (Rambo, rambo@nokill.com, 1999-02-24)

-- a (A@AisA.com), February 26, 1999.